Celebrate The Holidays With This Trio!
If you recognize these three, then you have enjoyed one of the funniest movies ever made – and it was released 36 years ago yesterday, which means it’s a holiday film!
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” was released on Dec. 16, 1988, giving frenzied holiday shoppers a hilarious break from the madness of their local shopping mall. It is also a timeless comedy that gets more hilarious with age – and I’ve got their secrets to share!
“Oklahoma! Oklahoma! Oklahoma”
If you know this line, then you know that Steve Martin has NEVER been funnier: enough teasing, time to celebrate one of the best comedies ever:
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!
Before we delve into the brilliance of this comedy, watch the hilarious trailer:
And Now, The “Secret” Of The Film’s Teaser Trailer!
Above you saw the film’s official movie trailer, but I want to talk about the film’s original “TEASER TRAILER!”
You see, before the movie trailer came out, the studio released a short “teaser”, just one moment from the movie designed to give you a funny intro to what to expect in the movie. This is great trivia, courtesy of IMDB:
An entire day was spent shooting the teaser trailer, which does not appear in the film!
That’s right, you are about to see a scene that was filmed ONLY to be used to tease the film! Here it is:
The trailer shows Freddy and Lawrence walking along the boardwalk, politely moving out of the way of other people, etc, with a voice saying something like “There are numerous distinguished gentlemen in the world… refined, cultured gentlemen… nice men… but nice men finish last”. As these last few lines are spoken, Freddy pushes an old lady into the water, and Lawrence shoves a kid’s face into his cotton candy!
And the scene never appears in the movie!
What a great tease for a great comedy! Let’s look at the plot of the film and share some more “secrets of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”:
Michael Caine is Lawrence Jamieson, a sophisticated man about town…Steve Martin is a petty thief Freddy Benson, hustling free meals on a train in the south of France…they meet onboard, and Jamieson realizes that Freddy could be problematic to his business, which is scamming rich women – in short, they are both “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”.
To protect his territory, Lawrence has Freddy arrested, and Martin delivers a brilliant attempt to remember his “friend’s” name, while the Cop waits patiently outside his cell.
Freddy Benson: “I know somebody here! I met him on a train! His name… is… his name is… James. No. His name is… James Josephson. Lor. No, no, no. James Lawrence. LAWRENCE… Lawrence. Lawrence Fells. Lawrence Feings. Forest Lorenston. Low. Lars. LARS. Lawrence. Lawrence. Luch. Lawrence. Tuh. His name is James Jesenthon. Lawrence Fell. Lawrence Jesterton. LAWRENCE JESTERTON.”
Inspector Andre: “…Lawrence Jamieson?”
Freddy Besnon: “YES! We’re like this!” (he crosses his fingers)
It’s a masterclass in physical comedy!
Another Secret Revealed: It Was ALL IMPROVISED!
That’s right, when Freddy is in jail trying to remember Lawrence’s name, the entire scene was improvised by Steve Martin. Director Frank Oz was crouched out of camera range and tapped actor Anton Rodgers on the foot to interrupt Martin when Oz felt that he had gone as far as he could with the improvisation!
This is one of the greatest comedic acting performances Martin has ever given…he is hilarious in every scene!
Jamieson decides to take Martin under his wing, so they devise elaborate schemes to con older rich women out of money – with Caine the sophisticated Playboy, and Martin his idiot brother!
Lawrence Jamieson: You’ve been banging on your pots again, haven’t you? I’ve told you… if you keep on doing it, you won’t have any pots left!”
This hilarious exchange ends with Steve Martin grabbing his pot and hitting it over and over as he runs around the room, yelling the classic line: “OKLAHOMA! OKLAHOMA! OKLAHOMA!”
Here’s a taste of it:
Another terrific moment happens as they are wining and dining a rich woman…as they are about to serve dinner, Steve Martin speaks up:
[Sitting at the dinner table]
Freddy Benson: Excuse me. May I go to the bathroom first?
Lawrence Jamieson: Of course you may.
Freddy Benson: [after a pause, and with relief on his face] Thank you.
They unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that this town (on the French Mediterranean coast) isn’t big enough for the two of them. They agree to a “loser leaves” bet. This bet brings out the worst in each of them…
That’s how we meet Glenne Headly, who promptly steals the movie as the young Heiress who is the Prize: whoever steals her fortune wins the game!
Another “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” Secret Revealed: It Was So Funny, Why Didn’t The Crew Ever Laugh?
I love this one. As noted on the great IMDB website, the crew never laughed during filming. And it’s a comedy! That’s bad right? Here’s the secret revealed:
When Michael Caine was asked what the most important lesson he learned in making movies over the decades, he had Scoundrels in mind. “If you’re doing a comedy and the crew laughs, it’s not funny . I did Dirty Rotten Scoundrelswith Steve Martin. The crew never laughed once at anything. It’s the funniest film I ever made.”
This is something I’ve heard form many who work in film. If they are having a blast on set laughing at everything, there’s a problem…and Caine, not known for comedy, accepted the role for a very personal reason!
Another Secret Revealed!
So, why did Caine decide to make this film? The same reason you buy real estate: location, location, location!
Again, according to IMDB.com:
When director Frank Oz first approached Michael Caine about a key role in this movie, he tempted him with the promise of a cozy villa in the south of France for the three-month period of the shoot. Once Caine learned that the villa on offer happened to be conveniently situated between the villas of two old friends, Roger Moore and Leslie Bricusse, he jumped at the opportunity.
Yes, he accepted the role based on where it was being filmed! But don’t get me wrong, Caine LOVED the experience.
In a 2023 interview with NPR, Caine revealed:
“I was co-starring with Steve Martin, who is the most wonderful guy, Glenne Headly, who’s a wonderful actress and a great girl… I had the best summer and the best time, and I never made a happier picture.”
In what is, to me, the single funniest scene in the film, as both of our con men try to seduce Headly, Steve Martin winds up in a wheelchair…and Michael Caine has delicious fun with it…to tell more would give away a moment that always has me crying with laughter…
And from there, it just gets better and better – this is, without a doubt, a tour de force in comic acting from Michael Caine, Steve Martin and Glenne Headly – a classic comedy film!
Oh, and my last secret revealed: they weren’t the first choices to be in the movie!
The Last Secret Revealed: It Was Going To Star Mick Jagger And David Bowie!
That’s right, two of rock’s Icons were going to star in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!”
As noted in IMDB.com:
The two singers, fresh off their collaboration with their “Dancing in the Street” cover, wanted to do a movie together. Jagger, who found screenwriter Dale Launer’s first produced screenplay Ruthless People (1986) to be brilliant, suggested that Launer write a script for them. The writer thought Bedtime Story, starring David Niven and Marlon Brando, would work for them. Launer, as instructed, thought up ways to allow Jagger’s character to sing in the movie without turning it into a musical. Eventually, Launer was told Jagger and Bowie wanted a “more serious” project. In 1992, Bowie expressed displeasure at not getting to do Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. “How ’bout them apples! Mick and I were a bit tweezed that we lost out on a script that could have been reasonably good,” he told Movieline.
I hope you enjoyed this look at “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, one of Steve Martin’s greatest roles!
If you want to see more Steve Martin gems, including some of his funniest television moments, see my story here:
And of course, another of his greatest comedies introduced us to “Chubby Rain”:
Eddie Murphy is equally brilliant in this affectionate and hilarious take on Hollywood…see why “Bowfinger” is another comedy classic!
If you like these stories, why not sign up to receive emails whenever I post? It’s easy to do, I do NOT collect any information about you at all, there are absolutely NO ads of any kind, just stories about movies, music, food, travel and pop culture…
You can sign up by clicking on my blog here and see the note on the right!
Let me know your thoughts, and if you like this story please share on social media! Bravo to these scoundrels!
Categories: Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Great Films, Hollywood, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, True Hollywood Mystery
johnrieber 
This is my all-time favorite comedy movie! Thank you for this terrific post, John. Love the unseen trailer.
LikeLike
One of the best comedies of all times, and the unknown teaser is fantastic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes on both counts! We watch it on a semi-regular basis and it holds up perfectly every time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Steve Martin has always been a comedic genius. I used to never miss Saturday Night Live in those days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He truly is!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m certainly a fan of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. I was listening to the THIS WEEK IN CHARLES BRONSON podcast today, where author Burt Kearns was talking about DRS being a remake of the Marlon Brando/David Niven film, BEDTIME STORY. Now I have to see that one as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think I mention that when they discuss Bowie and Jagger taking the roles – but yes, it’s great source material!
LikeLiked by 1 person
i just loved loved this movie and found it so funny
LikeLike
I saw this on release at the cinema. I laughed at it, but thought Steve Martin went too far a lot of the time. He does tend to do that.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I loved about it most, because Caine was the straight man who kept it from going too far…we all have our tastes to be sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was an excellent film….chuq
LikeLike
Hi, just wondering if you would like to join my new blogathon? Not sure if you got my messages…
LikeLike